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Three men in the fiery furnace

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow to an idol.
Contributed by Macari Art Studio
CC BY-NC
Personal & teaching use permitted Personal & teaching useCommercial use prohibited Commercial useDerivative works permitted Derivative worksA.I. adaptations permitted A.I. adaptations
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King Nechadnezzar ruled over the mighty Babylonian Empire. He had fought and won battles with the nations around him and made their people serve him. He was the most powerful man in the world at that time. – Slide 1
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King Nechadnezzar had invaded the land of the Jews and taken some of their most gifted people to work for him. Among them were three Jews the King had renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They worshipped the One True God and obeyed Him. – Slide 2
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King Nechadnezzar had a huge gold stature made on the plain of Dura in Babylon. It was 27 metres (90ft) high and 2.7 metres (9ft) wide. – Slide 3
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Then the king summoned all the important people of his kingdom to attend a special service to worship this golden idol. Governors, leaders of the army, advisors, treasurers, local rulers and magistrates all gathered before the large golden idol. Among those invited were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. – Slide 4
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Then it was announced, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is the King’s command.’ – Slide 5
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‘As soon as you hear the sound of many musical instruments playing, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.’ – Slide 6
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‘Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’ – Slide 7
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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego gulped. What should they do? God had commanded that it was wrong to bow down before idols. They were to worship the One True God and no one else. But who wanted to end up in a fiery furnace for disobeying the king? – Slide 8
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Then the music started. Musicians were playing all kinds of instruments. The three Jewish men, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego could hear the sound of flutes, harps and horns. It was time to worship the golden idol. What should they do? – Slide 9
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Immediately, everyone, from all nations, fell to the ground and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. – Slide 10
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Everyone that is, except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They stood quietly, refusing to worship anybody or anything but the One True God. They would not worship the golden idol. <br/>Would anyone notice? Yes! Some astrologers noticed they were not joining in the special service and reported them to the King. <br/>‘May the king live forever!’ they said, ‘there are some Jews who you have let rule over parts of your kingdom – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ – Slide 11
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Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. ‘Is it true, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?’ the King demanded. ‘I’ll give you one more chance to bow down before the golden idol or you will be thrown into the fiery furnace.’ – Slide 12
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The three Jews bravely replied, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and your punishment. But even if our God does not, we want you to know, your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ – Slide 13
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Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. – Slide 14
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Then, he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie them up and throw them into the blazing furnace. – Slide 15
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King Nebuchadnezzar watched as the flames engulfed them. Then suddenly he leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, your Majesty.’ – Slide 16
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‘Look!’ the king exclaimed,’ I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ – Slide 17
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Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire. – Slide 18
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The king and all those who had bowed down to the golden idol saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed. Their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. – Slide 19
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Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.’ – Slide 20
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‘Therefore, I order that the people of every nation must not say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. No other god can save in this way.’ <br/>Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They had honoured God and God had honoured them. – Slide 21
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